Charles (Chuck) Kensinger

Why we won’t laugh when Jesus tells a joke

June 27, 2025

When someone tells a joke, you have two choices. You can laugh at the joke or not. The or not is the one that can help or hinder a storyteller. If you at least smile, then they are encouraged to keep trying. If you frown, we know we missed your funny threshold. When you rudely escort us to the door, we know we really blew it.

Some people do not realize how often Jesus got a laugh from His disciples and others around Him when he spoke. One classic is the “It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter into Heaven.” What is funny about this statement, you may ask?

Imagine Jesus walking down the road surrounded by his followers, with many Pharisees and Sadducees with them. He is talking about who will go to see His Heavenly Father. “It is easier.” He says, holding His arms out. This is a sign of a word directly from God. “For a camel to go through the eye of a needle.” As He brings his arms together and the two fingers on His right hand are just separated. “Than for a rich man to enter Heaven.”

“But, Lord, who will enter the Kingdom of Heaven?” Jesus replies that what is impossible for man is not for God. You don’t get the joke either. His followers did, and they laughed at the rich Pharisees who were there. They thought being Jews would get them into Heaven. Being a Baptist won’t do it either. No wonder we won’t laugh.

Our Lord was not making fun of His opponents. As He was hung on the cross, He said, “Father, forgive them. They do not know what they are doing.” He was not just referring to the Roman soldiers. The Jewish Sanhedrin that condemned Him to death did not know what they were doing, either.

They wanted the conquering ruler to free their country. They did not know that the suffering servant had to die first. That sacrifice had to come back to life to conquer death, not just the Romans.

Israel is still in danger of being exterminated by those who have hated them for thousands of years because Jehovah loves them, and other nations do not. Iran, Jordan, Iraq, and Syria are a few examples.

The individuals needed salvation before the corporate group was set free to rule themselves again. Just as we Gentiles need to make a personal choice to accept the Messiah or the Christ and build a relationship with Him, the Jews are required to make a private decision. Have you done that yet?

Terror in the hospital

June 24, 2025

Not really, but I had to get your attention, didn’t I? I went through the standard check-in for the emergency department. We went through the process of triage. I spent five hours waiting to be taken to a room. I’d been answering the same questions repetitively.

These are the typical neurological, cardiac, and psychiatric screening processes. Two EKG’s, blood work, and chest X-ray. I’ve gone through this many times before except for the psych evaluation. When I finally was taken to a room, we waited for all the test results. Nothing out of the ordinary was discovered.

I tried to sleep. I was still fasting, and they only checked my blood sugar twice in eight hours. The reason I was required to go to the ER was to make sure my blood pressure and sugar levels were in range, I did not have dementia, or serious psychiatric problems.

A taxi took me home where I waited for the driver to pull out and got into my car and left again. I spent the morning looking for a place to stay without returning home. There was nowhere that the Lord made available for me.

I had to swallow my pride and ask Cindy to forgive me. I knew it would not be easy. When I got back home and went into the house Cindy and I began the process of forgiving each other and trying to find a way to prevent this from happening again. I am currently continuing outpatient testing to confirm that this problem does not happen again.

Let’s face it, none of us are perfect. Almost every couple has arguments or quarrels. The way you handle them is the main problem. I handled this one incorrectly. We are continuing to work through whatever causes disagreements.

It is possible to find common ground on almost anything if you try hard enough. Understanding, forgiveness, and compromise are the keys. Most marriages fail when one spouse chooses that they must have their way.

It is important to talk things out and express love in your partner’s primary love language. Communication is so essential to every relationship, it should be a priority. Remember why you decided to get married and be sure you maintain those loving actions.

I base what I write on a Christian world view. That means I speak of what Jesus taught in treating others as you want to be treated. I also emphasize the way love is defined in First Corinthians chapter 13. Love is patient and kind, it is just the beginning.

My encounter with the law

June 23, 2025

As it was getting late, I decided to return home and get my car. I had researched some places I might go for the night. To get there before dark, I needed to drive. As I was on the way, a friend saw me. She told me Cindy was worried and asked me to let her take me home.

I told her to leave me alone, and I walked into another patch of trees. It was getting dusk, and I did not want to get lost in an area I did not know. I hid in some brush and waited for her to leave. She made a phone call, and I heard my daughter come. It was getting dark, and I could see that at least one police car had arrived.

My wife had called my daughter and contacted the police, who put out a silver alert. I was endangered and had been reported to have dementia, and was threatened to take my life by jumping into traffic. I remained hidden in the brush and watched the officers in the woods looking for me.

After about forty-five minutes, I heard the dog. He came straight for me. The handler yelled that I had been found, and the two who had been searching came up. I had my cup in my hands. I did not worry about the canine officer until I was told not to get loud or he would hold me. I had avoided confrontation with two other dogs and listened to these instructions.

I was caught. They offered to take me home to my family, which I declined. They asked if I had been monitoring my diabetes, and I told them I could not because I had disposed of my phone. My continuous glucose monitor reports to it. I was not aware that I was considered suicidal and endangered.

I was given two options. I could return home with them or be transported to a hospital to be checked out. I chose the latter. That meant I was handcuffed and placed in a patrol car to await the ambulance. I complied.

The deputy sheriff who was leading my case waited with me, and we talked about how worried my wife was that I was missing. I told her I had not been missing. I knew where I was all that time, but did not choose to share that information with her. I asked how long she had been a deputy and learned she had worked in the jail for a while. She asked how I was doing in the back seat. I replied that, other than the pain of the handcuffs, I was fine.

The EMTs who came were equally kind and well-trained. While I was in the ambulance, I did not have to wear the cuffs. I enjoyed the pleasure of wearing both SPD and Greene County manacles. I don’t recommend either for evening wear.

The ride to Cox South was as enjoyable as the wait in the sheriff’s car. I spoke with the tech who rode in the back with me, strapped in for my safety. This was my first ambulance ride since the sixties. You can read about it in “The Shooting”. I’ll repost it later and continue this story tomorrow.

I took a walk

June 22, 2025

That’s all it was. My wife and I had a fight. I left the house without telling her where I was going. I’ve done it before. I was angry. I did not want to be around her. Millions of people take walks every day. I try to get in 3,000 to 5,000 steps each day on my smartwatch.

That day, I logged over 23,000 steps. I headed south. Normally, I go to a walking trail north of our home. I went south and west. Remember that it comes into play later. I walked along a creek. I wandered for a couple of hours. This time I had my shoes on.

Once, when I got mad and took a walk, I forgot to put my shoes on. I walked for a couple of hours barefoot up that trail I mentioned. I had my phone with me at that time, and my wife had my daughter come over, and they came to find me. Michelle brought my shoes to me and tried to get me to return home with her and my wife.

That time, I refused to get in the car with them. I told her I would get in her car alone with her. They went back to the house to get her car. I laid my phone down and continued my walk. This time, I had discarded my phone earlier in the day. Once again, I will explain something that you need to know for later.

The argument started in the car. My wife was driving. She threatened to have me picked up by the police and put me in a mental hospital if I got out of the car. I opened the door and went out. There was no traffic coming on that side. I walked out of the flow of the road and tossed my phone in the grass along the side of the road.

That was to prevent being found before I wanted to be. As I walked through the woods following the creek, I saw a clearing underneath electrical lines. The walking was easier there, but without the stream to guide me, I began walking back to the east.

I came up a rise and realized I was returning in the direction I came from. I made the first sighting of my daughter’s car and turned around. I had no intention of returning home. I went to the west once again and used the compass on my watch to keep me on a southwest heading. I was tired and thirsty. I set my course for a local convenience store. I stayed in trees and behind buildings as much as I could. I encountered two dogs that let me know they thought I did not belong there. I faced them and scared them away twice.

The third time they came back, their owner was with them and reminded me I was on private property. The former CBC campus is near the fairgrounds. I told him I was taking a walk and just passing through. He walked with me, and I asked questions about the church that now owned the property.

I saw my destination ahead and watched traffic for those I knew were looking for me. I used the restroom for the purpose it was designed and purchased a large drink. I continued my trek towards the library station. I spent the next few hours there reading, working on the computer, and watching for anyone I might know. I’ll continue this story tomorrow.

What does “Seven Brief Lessons on Physics” teach us?

June 20, 2025

In his book Carlo Rovelli tells us about Loop Quantum Gravity and how this theory relates to our world including the universe around us. He also speculates on the theory of time. His is an attempt to join the Theory of Relativity and Quantum Mechanics. These two ideas seem to be fitting on opposite sides of the hypothesis that all matter, energy, and time are a random accident. Both seek to eliminate the creator from the story.

Think about it for a minute. Matter, energy, and time were all created by Jehovah God. It does not depend on whether you believe me or not. God says He did it and if you want to argue it, you will have your chance. When the world ends, or your life does. Whichever comes first. Don’t say you weren’t warned.

It is your choice. No one else can make this decision for you. There is no hurry. You have until you die. Just do not wait one second too long. Then it will be too late.

Did you know that it does not matter how sincere you are, you may just be sincerely wrong. And I may be as well. If there is no God that created the universe(s) and when we die, we cease to exist, what have I lost? Nothing. I am happy and secure in my belief.

If I am correct and Jesus is not your savior and Lord, you have lost eternity. You will spend it in terrible agony away from God and everyone. Jesus described it in the story about Lazarus and the rich man. (Luke 16:19-31)

I know many of you have come to believe that it is the religious that are deceived. You’ve heard the saying that religion is the oppiate of the people. I agree with that statement. I am not talking to you about religion. There is a book entitled “Jesus is > (greater than) religion”.

Jesus challenged the Jewish religious leaders of His day. They asked Him if he was their Messiah. They expected a conquering ruler. He was not that. He had not come to free them from the oppression of the Romans. He came to release them from the slavery to sin and false beliefs which they followed.

They thought their Judaism would save them. He informed them that they were wrong. Killing sheep, goats, and bulls was doing no good. A sinless sacrifice was needed and that was what He had come to do. Think about it. Who better than God himself to become a human being and live for thirty or so years and die despite the fact He had broken no laws. Not even the religious leaders’ laws.

I know that if you believe nothing blew up without any help and started a chain reaction that caused our world and all the universe(s) including energy, matter, and time to begin you can understand that a being existed before anything else and decided He wanted people to exist.

You say you have difficulty believing in Heaven and Hell. I cannot believe in what is called the big bang theory. Something came from nowhere and exploded. I call that the Cosmic Flatulence Theory. You just do not want to believe that the eternal creator passed gas. That is a very rude beginning, and I understand why you would not want to accept this kind of creation. I don’t like to explain it this way. However you want to describe the beginning of everything, God did it.

Will the Cubs win the World Series in 2015?

June 18, 2025

(This column was written and not published before the end of the 2015 World Series. I have recently added the last part.)

Some say no. This opposes the thoughtful consideration given to this subject almost 40 years ago by Bob Gale, the writer of “Back to the Future Part 2.” He had this be the fact that caught Marty McFly’s attention and led him to make the disastrous move of buying the Gray’s Sports Almanac that Old Biff took to Young Biff in the Time Machine. If you have not seen this classic trilogy of Science Fiction, you must watch it to understand why today’s date is so important. Even Christians in Springfield may enjoy these PG-rated films if your family is old enough to handle the occasional curse words.

There is much speculation on this event because this is the first time in over 100 years the Chicago Cubs are poised to possibly be in the World Series in that fateful year mentioned in a movie almost three decades ago. Do you believe this will happen? They are facing the New York Mets in the National League Championship Series. As the record stands today the Cubs are down by three going into tonight’s game.

If the Cubs win, it may be the one of the few predictions that the movie had correct. We do not have flying cars; hoverboards or holographic billboards and businesses still use fax machines. We also still have bullying as was depicted in the 80’s, but most of it takes place on the internet. The internet, home computers and cell phones aren’t even mentioned by Marty or Doc even though Marty’s kids use video sets like ones currently on the market. The wall of video is possible, but still prohibitively expensive for most except technically savvy.

“Back to the Future” is no different from “1984”, and “2001 A Space Odessey” in missing how our technology would change. What seems like a good invention to someone writing a story may not turn out to be practical or convenient and we all know that convenience rules in our culture. That is why we have the microwave oven even though it was not envisioned before its invention. Many had ideas of food being replaced by pills or synthesizing machines. They did not, however, plan for a machine that just cooks food quicker.

Hopefully Robert Zemeckis and Bob Gale will not hold it against the Cubbies if this year becomes The Mets’ next chance to win the series. Let’s also hope it will not disrupt the time/space continuum by eliminating the Cubs before they even make it to the World Series. One can only hope.

That was then. This is now. Are you a Sci-Fi fan like me? I’ve been reading and watching this genre for most of my life. When Apollo Eleven crew Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldren walked on the moon, I found the difference between their rocket and all the ones seen in Movies and TV shows before then almost laughable.

The space shuttle was another science fact that was not expected by the fiction writers until the eighties. Today there are many stories and books that speculate with our society being destroyed by what is considered as the most probable problems. America’s enemies have also changed how these stories are written.

I can’t wait to see the stories published about a president that tries to overthrow our constitution and become a king, emperor, or dictator. These stories were common in the fifties. They were written about communists infiltrating our political system. Who knew it would just be good old American stupidity that causes our economy and government to almost be destroyed.

Respect for the law

June 16, 2025

While watching the episode of The Andy Griffith Show called Lawman Barney, I began to think about the problems with law enforcement currently. First responders are becoming targets for those who dislike authority. Police officers are ambushed frequently. The justification for some of these attacks has been incidents of police killing what are thought to be innocent people.

I will not talk about these incidents here. Keep watching and I will write about many of these police shootings later. In 1962 when the episode aired for the first time, police officers were respected in most small towns in America. Nationwide murder rates from then until 2017 have not quite doubled. During this same period, all crimes have almost tripled.

Ambush deaths of officers increased from eight in 2015 to 21 in 2016. Common reasoning credits the public in general for being angry with law enforcement. The rash of police murders of innocent people is the claimed justification for these murders of officers.

Is there a general disrespect for those who are hired to protect us? According to a 2016 Gallup poll, respect for police rose from 64% in 2015 to 76% in 2016. The same year attacks on police increased, and Americans voiced more admiration for their protectors. Who then is responsible for these attacks?

The short answer is criminals. That should surprise none of us. Body cameras on more officers should decrease the number of members of law enforcement who are set free after abusing their power. Hopefully, that will bring a reduction in police ambushes. It will not eliminate all of them. Police are fighting a war for us, and the enemy is the criminal element. That group will always view the uniformed officer as a target. All we can do is pray for them and be more vigilant in our own communities.

If you are one of those who complain about lawlessness and the current state of crime, do not think you can turn your back. It is time to do something. Support the police, courts, and those who have been victims. I do not know what it is like to be the one in jail or victimized by them. I have been a witness on more than one occasion.

I’ve watched drunk drivers involved in accidents and try to get away. I had someone die from being shot in front of my eyes. It took me months to process that, and I’m not sure I’ve gotten over it yet.

I know that you think I am just one of those pampered white people. What about the pampered blacks, Hispanics, and other minorities that obey the laws and are not part of the problem. They are the solution.

CHUCK AND THE DEAD HORSE

June 16, 2025

This is a story I heard many years ago. I wrote it out and saved it in my files. It went into my files for my columns years ago. Before I tell you the story I must make a disclaimer. Although my friends call me Chuck, this story is not about me.

“A fellow named Chuck encountered a farmer one day. The farmer said he had a real deal for him. He was selling raffle tickets to win a horse. Chuck purchased one of the tickets and went on his way.

A few weeks later Chuck gets in touch with the farmer who tells him that he won the horse. Chuck says that is great and asks when he can pick up the horse. The farmer tells him that he regrets to report that the horse died last night.

Chuck demands to claim the horse even if it is dead and shows up at the farm with a truck. The farmer is perplexed as to what Chuck plans to do with a dead horse.

Several months later the two meet up again and the farmer asks about the horse. Chuck tells him he made $2500.00 off of the horse. When asked how he was able to get that much for a dead horse he is told that Chuck raffled the horse off and when the winner came to pick up the horse and was told it was dead, Chuck gave him his money back and disposed of the dead horse.

The farmer then explains that Chuck is now a congressman.”

There are many morals to this story that I could give you. One is that a creative person can accomplish a great deal even with a dead horse. Or I could tell you that caveat emptor is Latin for “let the buyer beware.” I could even explain to you the U.S. economy. It is based on buy low and sell high.

This is Father’s Day and as a dad I am enticed to just accept this as a good dad’s joke. Or you might call it a bad dad joke. I have told a lot of those over the years and a few of the former.

My favorite story about my joke telling experiences is the time we were moving our youngest daughter from one dorm at Rolla to a different building to become a residence assistant. Some of her friends brought trucks and we were using our van to load, move and unload her possessions.

We were all visiting with each other and my daughter told first one and then another of my tales. After a while I had the opportunity to speak to her alone and I mentioned that she was using the material that she always told me was not funny. Each time she told a joke her friends laughed.

Her response was that she knew how to tell a joke better than I did. This was a line from another of my anecdotes. On this occasion I want to wish all dad’s a happy Father’s Day and apologize if once again I have confirmed what Kayla said.

Good, good Father

June 14, 2025

I had a good father. Some of you may not have been as fortunate. In our current society fathers are in short supply. Good fathers are a rare commodity. I’d like to tell you about mine. He was the fourth of five children. He had two older brothers and one older sister. His other sister was the youngest.

All born in the 1920s or 30s Their names fit the era. Clyde was the oldest, then Pauline. We called her Anie, pronounced with a long a. I never heard why we called her this. Raymond was next followed by Evan, my dad, and Virginia.

I have noticed in recent years that our younger generations are taking up dad’s name again. My brother was the only other Evan I had known of for most of my life. When I mentioned this to a cousin’s wife that their son had the same name as my dad He was surprised to learn what dad’s name was. He was a third cousin and had never met my dad.

Dad was always doing things for someone else in the family. A story that my mom’s sister Rosie told often was of her son Jeff being asked by his first teacher if he had a father. His dad left shortly after he learned they would soon have five children. I don’t know when they got a divorce, just that when Jeff started school, he had never met his dad.

Jeff attempted to explain that he did not but that he had what the teacher understood as an uncle in heaven. When asked about this my aunt explained that he was speaking of her brother-in-law, Evan.

Dad was close to all his family. We went to Anie’s house after school when my mother started working at Zenith. She would often give us toasted Cheerios for a snack. Before that, she worked evenings at different restaurants.

We often went to Paul and Virginia’s house in the evenings or on the weekends. Their daughters were some of the first girls I dated. I went with Loretta to a Valentine’s Day banquet at their church and would ask Bonita to go to movies or plays with me when I wasn’t dating anyone.

For one winter when I was in grade school the city of Springfield, MO experienced a natural gas outage during a very cold spell. We were advised to find an alternative way of heating our homes. Electric heaters were not common at that time.

Grandma and Grandpa Kensinger lived about three blocks away from us. They had a wood stove in their living room. I don’t remember if it was the only heat source in the house. Most of us gathered at their house for that night except for Paul and Virginia and their girls. That upset me.

I’ve spoken of Mel and Pauline’s son Russ and his brother Jim before. Remember, Russ sang the song “Running Bare.” We often had them at our house or went to their homes to play cards. We played Old Maid or Crazy Eights while they played more adult games like Canasta and Rummy.

I remember crying the first time I saw the original “Cars” movie at a theatre with my wife and kids. There is a scene where Mater tells Lightening about the interstate bypassing Radiator Springs, and they show some of the cars on a hill overlooking the construction.

I saw my Dad, brothers, Uncle Clyde, and his boys standing behind a gas station across the street from their home on Highway 66. We were watching the earth-moving equipment prepare the roadbed for Interstate 44. That was the first time I could remember that story.

Uncle Raymond was my Dad’s boss for most of his adult life. They worked for what is now Springfield Underground. My Uncle was called Ken, and he managed the trucking company and warehouse. My Dad was a truck driver, and everyone called him little brother.

In my career, I have worked in positions where I have been around many truckers. When I signed my name for deliveries of our freight pick-ups some would ask me if Ken was my dad. My response was always, “No, my Dad was little brother.” They all knew him but very few knew what his name really was.

I hope you have fond memories of your father and that you can join me in calling him a good father. For you men, strive to be that for your children. Remember dads, that Counselors tell us that most women who had positive relationships with their fathers have an easier time finding and keeping a husband. I give Mom and Dad the credit for teaching me how to be what my girls need.

My music

June 14, 2025

When I was growing up my favorite radio station was KICK which was 1260 on the AM dial. They played the top forty hits that I enjoy. There were so many funny disc jockeys. I hoped to be one. Let’s talk about them.

One morning when I was in college my clock radio came on and after he gave the news Bob Bright started to read the weather. “The National Weather Service predicts a thirty percent chance of rain today.” He paused and continued off script. “I’m going to update that after looking out my window. I give it a one hundred percent probability.”

I admire a man who could step out on his own senses and tell the truth. I used this line more than once when I did radio reporting in high school speech tournaments. Then there was Dan Coulter. His brother was in one of my classes in junior high. Dan had a unique style that was not fake. I laughed a great deal.

Jay Stevens was popular in Springfield for a few years and then we heard he had moved away. Years later he had a song published and it was a minor hit. In 1975 his song “Rocky” recorded by Dickie Lee made it to No. 1 on the charts. You know him today as Woody P. Snow.

Another was the husband of the drama teacher at Hillcrest while I was there. I met him while in college when I saw Sandy and Cliff at Little Theatre. We chatted and I asked her to say hello to my sister in class on Monday because I knew Vanessa would not believe me if I told her.

Not one of my favorites but one of my Dad’s was Barefoot Bob. After KTTS radio was purchased and became the Radio Ranch he joined the staff. He was a long-time country DJ as well as an entertainer. He played at least one of his own recordings on his program.

While in college I took the test and received my license to become legitimate as an on-air talent for radio. My theme song would be “I’m a Girl Watcher.” I had no luck in Springfield and then I tried to get a job after moving to school in Bolivar, MO. I would have decided how to be a personality on whichever station might hire me.

In the 1980s I began listening to Wayne Glenn, the old record collector on KTXR FM radio. Wayne is a historian. He has written books about the Ozarks musicians and towns. He calls himself the old record collector because when he started, he played music that had been recorded at least thirty years before. That meant from the fifties and before.

Each year more music is opened under these guidelines. By the early two thousand the format moved into the seventies and eighties. He did interviews and gave the history of the music and the entertainers. I learned more from him than any other radio announcer.

I might go on air on-line with my own broadcast someday. I have a style I would like to use and a format that would allow me to do interviews and discuss songs, writers, and artists. My choice of theme song would be “I’m a God Watcher.”

Do you have favorite radio personalities of your own? What type of music do you listen to? Would you rather listen to talk radio, podcasts, or do you stream your music? I’d like to hear about them in the comments.